Campbell to host TV3 current affairs show next year

Carol Hirschfeld and John Campbell

TV3 today confirmed its newsreader John Campbell will host a new current affairs programme at 7pm next year.

Campbell's current 3 News co-anchor Carol Hirschfeld will also move to the new programme as senior producer and specialist interviewer, Canwest Mediaworks chief executive Brent Impey said in a statement today.

The show will compete with former TVNZ host Paul Holmes' new show on Prime TV, and TV One's current affairs show Close Up at Seven, now hosted by Susan Wood.

TV3's 6pm news presenter roles, vacated by Campbell and Hirschfeld, will be filled by Mike McRoberts and Hilary Barry.

Mr Impey said the new show hosted by Campbell would be "a contemporary current affairs format, featuring the news interview of the day, and appropriate features of appeal to our targeted 18-49 audience".

He said the decision was taken after much consultation and research.

"We believe that in John Campbell we have the country's pre-eminent interviewer," Mr Impey said.

"By capitalising on his skills we make the most of his unique talents in a way that can bring significant benefits to the network.

"Combined with Carol Hirschfeld's skills as a formidable producer, we have a very powerful team."

Campbell and Hirschfeld had both signed "multi-year contracts" with TV3, Mr Impey said,

He said 3 News would still be a force with McRoberts and Barry as its anchors.

"Their journalistic credentials, combined with significant presenter experience, make them an ideal team."

TV3's announcement of a new 7pm show was not unexpected following Holmes' announcement on November 2 that he was leaving TVNZ for Prime, along with producer Philippa Keane.

Prime announced this week that TVNZ Breakfast show host Alison Mau would work on the new Holmes show, and it was also believed to have targeted members of TV3's news team.

- NZPA